Unfortunately yes - Lime Ears are out of my budget. I can spend around USD 400. But, from what I have read it seems that LE are rather warm IEMs; so maybe they would not be good for me.

What about CTM-200? Alclair Reference or Dual?

My new CIEMs don't have to be exact as Etys but I would like to them being as close as possible to Etys in terms of accuracy; more subbass is more than welcome.

I think you’re thinking of the Lime Ears LE3B. The LE3 is pretty neutral, maybe slightly warm but no more so than a HiFiMan RE-400, for example.

The CTM-200 doesn’t have any more deep bass than the Etys (in fact, I think it drops off a little more quickly) so it doesn’t really fit your requirements.

The Alclair Reference has the bass but lacks the level treble of the Etys. It sounds more like the GR07 at the top with some hotness/peaks. Other than that it’s quite good. Not sure what the Alclair dual sounds like. The quad-driver RSM is pretty consistent with the sound of the 3-driver reference, just better in terms of imaging, bass quality, and overall balance.

Joker what would you recommend as a very bassy (but still good sq) ~20$ iem preferably through amazon? I've been thinking about the she3580 but i'm worried since i would also use these iems for running (mostly just walking from place to place though) and wear my iems cable down that the microphonics would be too much? I listen at 85-90db.

HI Joker! I would like to ask, is there any possibility of you reviewing the TDK BA200 in future? I know it is not in your planned review list but still just wanted know. I am very impressed with these iems and to me they sound better than anything I have heard thus far, including the likes of w4, um3x, sm3 v1/2, gr07,xba 40, fidelio s2 and even the heir audio 4a customs. I absolutely love it and it would be of great interest to know your opinion of them relative to all the high end iems that you have heard so far.

Joker what would you recommend as a very bassy (but still good sq) ~20$ iem preferably through amazon? I've been thinking about the she3580 but i'm worried since i would also use these iems for running (mostly just walking from place to place though) and wear my iems cable down that the microphonics would be too much? I listen at 85-90db.

HI Joker! I would like to ask, is there any possibility of you reviewing the TDK BA200 in future? I know it is not in your planned review list but still just wanted know. I am very impressed with these iems and to me they sound better than anything I have heard thus far, including the likes of w4, um3x, sm3 v1/2, gr07,xba 40, fidelio s2 and even the heir audio 4a customs. I absolutely love it and it would be of great interest to know your opinion of them relative to all the high end iems that you have heard so far.

My trusty SHE3570s finally died out and I need a recommendation for a new go to IEM.

Based on my price range, I've narrowed it down to the Sony MH1C, LG Quadbeat, Dunu Trident, JVC HA-FX40, and the Sony MDR-EX300. I do enjoy a good V-shaped sound signature, but I can't stand poor microphonics which is why I haven't immediately chosen the MH1Cs. If anyone has any personal insights and comparisons to the SHE35XX series, I'd love to hear them.

Hey joker, I bought the SHE3580 and was looking for an upgrade and was hoping you could help me out. I was looking for something with more bass than the SHE3580, better build quality and slightly better isolation. Any suggestions?

well, he's pretty muchreviewed the fidelio s1 and s2 on innerfidelity, so I guess he might add them here soon when he decides on the final scores.

Yep, will add them when I get a chance. There seems to always be several in-progress reviews I want to finish ASAP.

I do use the Fidelios as a benchmark these days and even included the S1 in the short buyer’s guide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckshock

My trusty SHE3570s finally died out and I need a recommendation for a new go to IEM.

Based on my price range, I've narrowed it down to the Sony MH1C, LG Quadbeat, Dunu Trident, JVC HA-FX40, and the Sony MDR-EX300. I do enjoy a good V-shaped sound signature, but I can't stand poor microphonics which is why I haven't immediately chosen the MH1Cs. If anyone has any personal insights and comparisons to the SHE35XX series, I'd love to hear them.

The MH1C and Trident aren’t notably v-shaped IMO. The Quadbeat has some cable noise, though it’s a little better than the MH1C. The EX300 and FX40 are much better in this regard.

How about the VSonic VSD1? It’s v-shaped, but not too v-shaded (reminds me of the VSonic GR07 Bass Edition) and the cable noise isn’t terrible, especially when worn cable-up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prakhar

Hey joker, I bought the SHE3580 and was looking for an upgrade and was hoping you could help me out. I was looking for something with more bass than the SHE3580, better build quality and slightly better isolation. Any suggestions?

Hmm… that sounds like the Yamaha EPH-100 to me. Great bass with good depth, very good isolation for a dynamic-driver earphone, and the build is pretty solid.

Build Quality (4/5) – The wooden housings of the C-12 are a little plain but well put-together. The earphones feature replaceable filters, which is a rarity these days. The textured cable is nice and sturdy, reminding me of the cords on the Brainwavz M1/M2/M3 earphones. No cable cinch is present

Isolation (3/5) – Shallow fit results in average noise isolation

Microphonics (4.5/5) – Good with cable-down wear; even better when worn over-the-ear

Comfort (4/5) – The wooden housings are very lightweight and not overly large, allowing for a comfortable fit

Sound (7.3/10) – The C-12 is an unabashedly bass-heavy earphone that focuses on presenting listeners with a big and impactful low end. The midbass region is hyped up, resulting in a slightly boomy sound and making the deep bass appear less prominent. Earphones such as the VSonic GR02 Bass Edition and Dunu Trident, which are by no means lacking in bass, both yield to the C-12 in overall impact, offering a more linear response better balanced between midbass and subbass. Suffice it to say that no one will find the bass of the C-12 deficient.

As a result of the bass boost, the mids of the C-12 are mildly veiled but at the same time maintain a warm and rich tone. Note thickness is rather good, though for my tastes the earphones could use more midrange presence and clarity. Clarity and detail levels are about on-par with the Brainwavz M2 and the older bass-heavy Xears models. The top end rolls off gently for a slightly dark overall tone and has a smoother character than, for example, VSonic earphones and the Astrotec AM-800. This makes it less fatiguing and more tolerable at high volumes. At the same time, the C-12 has a bit more sparkle than the aging Brainwavz M1 and M2 models, which is a plus.

The presentation of the C-12 is nice and spacious, making competitors such as the Dunu Trident sound closed-in and congested in comparison. It’s not quite at the level of the pricier Astrotec AM-800 but comes very close, which is all the more impressive considering the more bass-heavy balance and darker tone of the C-12. Combined with the powerful bass, the spacious presentation makes for a very enjoyable listening experience.

Value (8/10) – The Signature Acoustics Elements C-12 is a very capable earphone from the first India-based IEM manufacturer. A solid all-rounder with even more solid bass response, the Elements C-12 boasts slightly rolled-off treble and a spacious, reverberant presentation. The wooden housings are lightweight and comfortable in the ear while the twisted cables are strong and non-microphonic, making for convenient listening while out and about. Minor details such as packaging are slightly rough around the edges but one thing is certain: the Elements C-12 doesn’t look – or sound – like a freshman effort.